Marine location marker



Oct. 8, 1963 R. w. SZYPULSKI 3,105,979

MARINE LOCATION MARKER Filed May 11. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HH H 38 INVENTOR. RAYMOND W. SZYPULSKI ATTY.

I /444Wm AGENT.

Oct. 8, 1963 R. w. SZYPULSKI 3,105,979

MARINE LOCATION MARKER Filed May 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

INVENTOR. RAYMOND W. SZYPULSKI ATTY.

3,105,979 MAREJE LGCATION MARKER Raymond W. Szypulski, Berwyn Heights, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed May 11, 1962, Ser. No. 194,264 4 Claims. (Cl. 9-8.3) (Granted under Title 35, US. ode (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States :of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

t This invention relates to a marine location marker and 'tmere particularly to a marker which may be automatically Eejected or launched by hand with equal reliability and safety, and which remains unactivated until contact with salt water.

In the past, marine location markers generally have utilized a container loaded with a pyrotechnic which is ig nited by utilizing a pressure activated firing pin to initiate a primer, a delay fuse, and a first fire composition, the first fire composition igniting a main pyrotechnic load. For automatic ejection, an air blast from a retro gun is utlized to propel the marker to the desired location and to activate the firing mechanism. The air blast from the retro gun must be of sufficient pressure to activate the firing pin and ignition of the marker firing chain therefore occurs within the ejector barrel. Inhalation or ingestion of the gases given off by the pyrotechnic composition may have severe results and may be a caustic irritant to the skin md mucous membranes, therefore initiation Within the ejector barrel is undesirable since occasionally a marker may fail to clear the ejector barrel or may clear with insufiicient force to propel the marker from the immediate area. Further, should the marker fail to clear the ejector barrel, it presents a fire hazard for the life of the signal, in many instances, as much as fifteen minutes.

For hand dispensing, the prior art marine marker must be dropped from at least a minimum height and must travel ballistically to permit impact with the Water in such a way as to initiate the firing chain. Impact markers have not performed reliably when launched from aboard ship and from helicopters and further require fins to insure ballistic stability when hand dropped.

In the past, it has further been the practice to launch marine location markers from a submarine while the submarine is submerged by initiating a time delay fuse and releasing the marker which is of sufiicient buoyancy to rise. The time delay is arranged such that the pyrotechnic within the marker is ignited after the marker has reached the surface of the water and has stabilized. It is obvious that such a system is limited by the time delay incorporated in the firing chain which limits the depth from which the marker can be released. Further, the amount of the time delay capable of being built into such a marker is limited from the standpoint of space, Weight, and other practical considerations and therefore limits the maximum depth from which the marker may be launched. Once the marker is constructed, this time delay is fixed thus limiting the range of depths over which the marker can be released. If the marker is released from too great a depth, the pyrotechnic composition will be ignited while the marker is still a considerable distance below the surface of the water resulting either in burnout or extinguishment of the marker before it reaches the surface. Further, submarine markers of the prior art have necessitated either initiation of the firing chain while the marker is within the submarine launching tube, thereby creating a safety hazard to operating personnel, or they have relied upon hydrostatically operated me- 3,lb5,9?9 Patented Get. 8, 1963 2 chanical firing systems which are not entirely satisfactory or reliable. Thus, the submarine launched marine markers of the prior art have seriously limited the operational depths from which the marker may be launched and have been somewhat hazardous to operating personnel or have necessitated the use of a relatively unreliable mechanical initiating system.

The general purpose of this invention, therefore, is to provide a marine location marker which is activated only upon contact with salt water and which utilizes an obturator to insure adequate ejection distances and therefore possesses none of the :aforedescribed disadvantages. T o accomplish this, the present invention contemplates a new and unique design utilizing a sea Water cell to provide electrical current for initiation of a primer only after the marker is in contact withsalt water and therefore allows both automatic ejection and hand launching with equal safety and reliability.

Another general purpose of this invention is to provide a marine location marker which may be launched from a submarine at any operational depth, which increases the safety aiI'orded operating personnel and which has a greater increased operational reliability than the devices heretofore lcnown. To accomplish this, the present invention further contemplates a new and unique design utilizing a hydrostatically operated valve which, when the marker has risen to a desired predetermined depth, opens to admit water into a chamber containing a salt Water cell which is activated on contact therewith. This provides an electrical current for initiation of a primer to ignite the marker firing chain.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a marine marker which is activated only upon contact with sea or salt water.

Another object is to provide a marine marker which may be launched either automatically or by hand with equal safety and reliability.

A further object is the provision of a marine marker which need not be dropped from a specific height.

A still further object is the provision of a marine location marker which may be launched from a submarine at any desired operational depth.

Still another object is to provide a marine marker which is activated with equal reliability regardless of the attitude of the marker upon impact with the water.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a marine marker which does not require fins for ballistic stability yet is reliably activated upon contact with sea or salt water.

A still further object is the provision of a marine marker which is activated only upon contact with salt water and which ejects one or more aerial displays.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates in section a marine location marker specifically adapted to be air dropped embodying the instant invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates in section an aerial display marker particularly adapted to be launched from a submerged submarine.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the marine location marker comprises a base 5 having secured thereto by crimp 6 and sealed by O-ring 7 an outer tube 8 having a reinforced, necked end portion 9. The aperture 11 within the necked end portion 9 is initially sealed by valve 12 and O-ring 13, valve 12 being held in place by valve spring 14 until after initiation of the pyrotechnic as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds. Inner tube 16 abuts the baseS at one end thereof, and

abuts the gasket 17 and the reinforced end portion 9 of outer tube 8 at the other end thereof. A reinforcing tube 18 composed of a plastics or any other suitable material is interposed between the outer tube 8 and the inner tube 16 to provide the marker with the necessary structural strength to withstand impact with the water when dropped from considerable height and to confine the gases generated within the device by the burning pyrotechnic composition.

A pyrotechnic composition candle 15 is pressed within the inner tube 16 and is separated from the inwardly projecting portion 19 of base by a felt spacer 21. Adjacent the pyrotechnic candle 15 at the upper or burning end thereof is a starter container 22 secured in place by starter container cover 23 pressed within and frictionally held by inner tube 16. Within container 22 is a starter mix or first fire composition 24 and a pair of electrically initiated squibs 26. The container 22 and the weakened portion 27 of cover 23 are composed of a plastics material of such composition and thickness that container 22 and the weakened portion 27 of cover 23 melt under the heat of the starter mix or first fire composition 24.

Contained within the cavities 28 in base and supported by battery strap 29, are a pair of sea or salt water batteries 31 having magnesium and silver chloride as the active elements. Squibs 26 may be connected to battery 31 through wires 32 which may be, if desired, provided with connectors 33 and 34 to provide for ease of assembly. The electrical leads enter cavities 28 through grommets 36 which prevent water from entering the upper portion of the marker as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds.

Rotatable cover 37 is held within the base 5 by retaining ring 38 engaging a recess in the base, the cover 37 being sealed therein by O-ring 39.

Within each of the diametrically spaced apertures 41 in base 5 and sealed therein by the O-rings 42 is a vent plug 43. Tab 44 integrally formed on cover 37 is positioned closely adjacent the rear of plugs 43 to prevent the plugs from being prematurely pushed inwardly. Cover 37 may be rotated to remove the projections 44 from behind plugs 43 such that plugs 43 may be pushed inwardly to break the seal formed by O-rings 42.

Obturator 46 encompasses the base 5 in such a manner as to form a seal with the ejector barrel when the marine marker is launched from a retro gun to insure build up of sufiicient pressure to push vent plugs 43 inwardly and further to insure sufiicient pressure build up to eject the marker with sufiicient force to clear the ejector. This also permits more reliable dispenser calibration of ejection distances and velocities.

If the marker is to be launched by hand the cover 37 is rotated to the armed position thereby removing projections 44 from behind plugs 43. Plugs 43 are pushed inwardly breaking the seals formed by O-rings 42 and the marker is dropped into the water. When, however, the marker is to be launched automatically from a retro gun, the cover 37 is rotated to the armed position and the marker fitted into the gun without disturbing the initial location of plugs 43. The blast of the retro gun creates sufficient pressure behind obturator 46 to push vent plugs 43 inwardly thereby completely arming the device.

The center of gravity of the marker is such that regardless of the attitude of the marker upon impact with the water the marker will float with aperture 11 extending a few inches above the Water, valve 12 preventing water from initially entering aperture 11 and filling the cavity above the starter container cover 23.

After entry into the water, sea water enters the apertures 41 to fill cavities 28 sufiiciently to activate the batteries 31. After a short period of time, sufiicient energy is developed by the batteries 31 to initiate one or both of the squibs 26 igniting the starter mix or first fire composition 24. Starter mix :24 melts container 22 and the weakened portion 27 on starter container cover 23 and ignites the pyrotechnic composition 15. Burning of the pyrotechnic composition creates a pressure against valve 12 of sufiicient magnitude to overcome the force of valve spring 14 thereby propelling valve 12 outwardly breaking the seal formed by O-ring 13 and allowing the gases to escape from the inner tube 16 through aperture 11.

As is well known to one skilled in the art, the products of composition created by the pyrotechnic composition result in either light, smoke or both in predetermined color or colors to mark the position of the marine marker within the water. The pressure created within the inner tube 16 is suificient to prevent entry of water through aperture 11 thereby preventing quenching of the composition 15 even though the marker may become from time to time completely submerged.

While the vent plugs have been illustrated as being located along the sides of base 5, it is obvious to one skilled in the art that the location of the vent plugs is not critical and that by a slight modification of the device, the vent plugs may be located in the bottom portion of the base by rearranging the mechanical safety or omitting the same, if desired. It is further obvious, that become readily filled with Water and therefore self sinking. Such a construction would, of course, require an inhibitor or insulator to prevent premature melting of the outer container. It is further obvious that the embodiment illustrated may be provided with any suitable corrodible plug which, after a period of time, would insure sinking of the marker case if suificient water had not yet entered aperture 11 to sink the marker.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a marine location marker having an aerial display signal and particularly adapted to be launched from a submerged submarine. The marker has an outer tube 51 secured to the base 52 'by crimp 53 and sealed with an O-ring 54. Secured to the other end of the outer tube 51 by shear pins 56 and sealed with O-ring 57 is an aluminum nose 58 which is ejected during the operation of the marker as will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

Within the upper portion of the outer tube is a corrugated upper carrier spacer 59 which abuts the nose cone 58 at one end thereof and at the other end. abuts a spring support 61 having cylindrical spring housing 62 integrally formed therewith and projecting into the upper carrier spacer 59.

Carrier *63 is a thin-Walled cylindrical tube having an expanded portion 64- located intermediate its ends and has a carrier base 66 crimped to one end thereof and an upper carrier nose 67 frictionally held within the upper end portion thereof. The lower carrier spacer 68 is interposed between the outer wall of the carrier 63 and the inner wall of the outer tube 5 1 and abuts the spacer 52 at one end and the expanded portion 64 of carrier 63 at the other end to position the carrier 63 within the outer tube 51. The carrier 63 is held in position by spring 69 positioned within the spring housing 62 of spring support 61 and engaging the upper carrier nose 67. The spring support 61 is held in place by the upper carrier spacer 59 acting against the aluminum. nose cone 58 which is secured to the outer tube 51 by the shear pins 56. The force exerted by the spring 69 is insuflicient to shear the pins 56 but is sufficient to retain the expanded portion 64 of carrier 63 in abutting relation with the lower carrier spacer 68.

-Con-tained within the carrier base 66 are a pair of 5, time delay composition pellets 71 and an ejection charge 72, in abutting contact with one end of the delay pellets, the other end of the delay pellets communicating with the exterior of the base *66 through the apertures 73. Positioned immediately above the carrier base and spaced therefrom by spacer 74 is a visual signal display device having a housing 75 within which is contained a first fire composition 76 and a flare candle 77. Parachute 78 has its shroud lines connected to the pyrotechnic candle housing 75 and is contained within the carrier 63 and positioned about the support tube 79.

Supported by the tube 79 and also contained within the carrier 63 is a second visual signal display device having a housing '81 within which is contained smoke composition 82 surrounding a starter mixture 83-. Secured to the housing 81 of the smoke candle is a I arachute 84 contained within a parachute guard spring 86 which is formed by two semicircular portions, each having a cross section as illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper 'end of the guard spring abutting the spacer 87 which is contiguous with the upper carrier nose '67. A fuse of quickmatch 88 is secured to the housing 81 and arranged such that there are a plurality of coils disposed Within the starter mixture 83 and is threaded through the support tube 79 and the aperture running through the center of the pyrotechnic candle 77 such that one end thereof lies adjacent the ejection charge 72 to provide a means for initiating the starter mixture in the smoke candle as will herein become more readily ap parent as the description proceeds.

Base 52 is formed with a recess portion 89 having a centrally located aperture 91 therein, the outer circumferential edge thereof being beveled to engage the flared portion of valve sleeve '92 such that the valve sleeve is limited in its travel into the base 52 but may move out of the aperture 91. Valve sleeve 92 has a pair of apertures 93 formed therein to admit water to the interior of the base 52. Valve 94 has a flanged portion which is received by the recessed portion 89 of the base 52 and a valve stem which extends within the valve sleeve 92. About the valve stem is positioned an outer valve spring 96 which abuts the valve sleeve at one end thereof and the flanged portion of the valve 94 at the other end thereof thereby tending to force the valve out wardly to open the valve. In the closed position, illust-rated in FIG. 2, O-ring 97 is pressed between the recessed portion of the base and the flanged portion of valve 94 to form a water tight seal. Valve 94 has an axially extending blind bore within which is contained an inner valve spring 98 which exerts a force against the guide shoe 99 pivotally secured by pin 1111 to the base 52 which tends to pivot the guide shoe outwardly. Guide shoe 99 is locked in position by safety pin 199 which is removeable to arm the marker. Lat-ch 102 is also pivotally secured to pin 101 and has an elongated slot 103 within which is secured one end of wire 104. Wire 19-4 extends through an aperture in the guide shoe 99 and projects into an aperture 106 in the housing 107 of the shorting mechanism 1155.

Within the housing 167 is carried a plunger 108 having a flexible contact 169 secured to one end thereof which, when the marker is in the safe or unarmed condition, bridges a pair of contacts 111. The plunger 108 is spring biased by spring 112 in such a manner that when the guide shoe 99 pivots about the pin 101 the plunger is driven in an outwardly direction to remove the contact 199 from across the contacts 111.

Supported within the interior chamber of base 52 is a salt water activated battery 113 the terminals of which are respectively connected to one of the contacts 111 and to the electrically initiated squibs 114 contained within the expellant charge 116 which is located immediately below the carrier base 66 and is separated from the remainder of the interior cavity of base 52 by wall 117. Contained within the interior cavity of base 52 is a water 6 absorbent material 118 which helps to insure contact of the salt water with the battery 113.

In operation, the marker is assembled in the condition illustrated in FIG. 2 and prior to insertion in the submarine launching tube, safety pin is manually pulled to unlock the arming mechanism. The signal is inserted in the launching tube and as it is ejected, latch 1112 is rotated about pin 101 to extract the wire 104 from the aperture 106 in the housing 107 thereby unlocking the guide shoe 99. When the marker leaves the launching tube the inner valve spring 98 rotates the guide shoe 99 about the pin 101 thereby releasing valve 94. The spring constant of outer valve spring 96 is arranged such that the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the outer surface of valve 94 is sufliciently great to maintain the valve closed until the marker reaches a predetermined depth. At this depth, the outer valve spring forces the valve open thereby breaking the seal formed by O-ring 97 to admit Water to the inner chamber of base 52 through the apertures 93 in the valve sleeve 92. Further, as the guide shoe 99 is pivoted outwardly the plunger 108, under the force of spring 112, is also moved outwardly to remove the shorting contact 109 from across the contacts 111.

Water enters the inner cavity within the base 52 and energizes the salt water battery 113 and thereby initiates the marker firing chain. Activation of the battery energizes the electrically initiated squibs 114 which may incorporate a built in time delay to insure that the marker reaches the surface of the water and stabilizes before detonation thereof.

Detonation of squibs 114 ignites the expellant charge 116 which may comprise a rapid burning explosive, such, for example, as black powder, the gases of which create a high pressure which is transmitted through the carrier 63, spring 69, and upper carrier spacer 59 to the shear pins 56 causing these pins to shear and allow ejection of the carrier 63 from within the outer tube 51. Spring 69 operates to separate the upper carrier spacer 59 and the aluminum nose 58 from the carrier 63 such that only the carrier 63 together with the upper carrier nose 67 is projected upwardly into the atmosphere. A t the same instant, the combustion of the expellant charge 116 is com municated through apertures 73 in the carrier base 66 to ignite the delay composition pellets 71 which in their burning form an ash which substantially seals the apertures 73 behind the point of burning. Shortly before the carrier 63 reaches the apogee of its trajectory the delay composition pellets 71 ignite the ejection charge 72 the burning of which not only ignites the quickm-atch 88 and the first fire composition 76 in the flare candle but also creates a pressure suflicient to overcome the frictional forces holding the upper carrier nose 67 to the carrier 63 and ejects both the flare candle and the smoke candle from within the carrier 63.

As the smoke candle leaves the carrier 63 the parachute guard spring 86 being made in semi-circular halves falls away thereby releasing the parachute 84 which opens to suspend the housing 81. Burning of the quickmatch 88 is suflicient to ignite the starter mixture 83 which in turn ignites the smoke composition 82 to produce an aerial smoke signal that is suspended by a parachute.

Likewise, the flare candle is also expelled from the carrier 63 and is suspended by the opening of the parachute 78 attached thereto. The first fire composition 76 having been ignited by the ejection charge '72 ignites the flare candle 77 to produce an aerial flare display sus pended by the parachute 78.

It should be understood that the flare and smoke dis plays are utilized by way of example only and not by Way of limitation it being obvious that a plurality of flare displays or a plurality of smoke displays of like or various color combinations may readily be used or, if desirable, a single flare candle or smoke composition may be utilized by design changes or modifications within the scope of those skilled in the art. It should further be understood, that the aerial pyrotechnic displays utilized in combination with the submarine released marker having the hydrostatic valve initiating mechanism is also illustrated by way of example, it being obvious that an inplace marker such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 but with the base arrangement of FIG. 2 may be readily arranged. Likewise, by design modifications the marker illustrated in FIG. 1 may be readily converted into a marker having an aerial display if desired.

It is equally obvious that the marker embodiment of FIG. 2 need not be launched from a submarine since the latch 162 may be rotated by hand thereby releasing the guide shoe 99 to open the valve 94 under the action of the outer and inner valve springs 96 and. 93 and the marker may then be dropped into the water by hand with equal safety and reliability as the embodiment of FIG. 1 since the firing chain is not activated until after the salt water enters the cavity within the base 52.

Further, it has been found in practice that each of the markers illustrated maybe operated with equal safety and reliability in fresh water by inserting into the base cavity a small quantity of salt either as a tablet, in a porous container or in loose form which when contacted by the fresh water forms a salt water solution of sufficient concentration to activate the battery since the amount of salt water and the concentration of the salt within the water necessary for such activation is relatively small.

There has been illustrated and described a marine location marker which is not activated until the marker is within the medium of intended use and which need not be dropped from a specific height nor in a particular attitude when striking the water to insure activation of the marker. Therefore, the marker may be launched either by hand or by some automatic device with equal safety. Also reliability of operation does not necessitate any fins to stabilize the marker in flight, its attitude of impact with the water being immaterial to its successful operation.

There has also been illustrated and described an aerial pyrotechnic display signal particularly adapted to be launched from a submarine which also is not activated until it is within the medium of its intended use, which is not limited in the operational depths from which the marker may be released and which does not depend upon any mechanical striking mechanisms for activation of the marker firing chain. Therefore, the marker may be launched over a wide range of depths with equal safety and reliabiltiy of operation.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A marine location marker adapted to be placed into a body of Water comprising a casing, a pyrotechnic composition disposed within said casing, electrical means for igniting said pyrotechnic composition, said casing having in its lower part an opening for entrance of water, a closure plug frictionally retained in said opening, an obturator encircling said casing above said opening for providing a sliding seal between said casing and the barrel of a launching gun, whereby the launch gas pressure will .3 push said closure plug inwardly into the casing to clear I said opening while simultaneously ejecting the location marker from the gun, and means responsive to entry of waterinto the casing through said opening for activatin said electrical means. i

2. A location marker as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper end of said casing terminates in an aperture, and valve means normally closing said aperture to preclude the entrance of Water, said valve means being ejectable in response to increased internal pressure in said casing due to ignition of said pyrotechnic composition.

3. A location marker as defined in claim 1 wherein the pyrotechnic composition is encased in a fusible plastic material.

4. A location marker as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided Within said casing normally obstructing inward movement of said plug but accessible from the exterior of said casing for movement into a position out of obstructing relationship with said plug.

References liter in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,476,387 Atwell Dec. 4, 1923 2,114,213 Clauser Apr. 12, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 850,550 Great Britain Oct. 5, 1960 962,625 France June 15, 1950 

1. A MARINE LOCATION MARKER ADAPTED TO BE PLACED INTO A BODY OF WATER COMPRISING A CASING, A PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITION DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CASING, ELECTRICAL MEANS FOR IGNITING SAID PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITION, SAID CASING HAVING IN ITS LOWER PART AN OPENING FOR ENTRANCE OF WATER, A CLOSURE PLUG FRICTIONALLY RETAINED IN SAID OPENING, AN OBTURATOR ENCIRCLING SAID CASING ABOVE SAID OPENING FOR PROVIDING A SLIDING SEAL BETWEEN SAID CASING AND THE BARREL OF A LAUNCHING GUN, WHEREBY THE LAUNCH GAS PRESSURE WILL PUSH SAID CLOSURE PLUG INWARDLY INTO THE CASING TO CLEAR SAID OPENING WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY EJECTING THE LOCATION MARKER FROM THE GUN, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ENTRY OF WATER INTO THE CASING THROUGH SAID OPENING FOR ACTIVATING SAID ELECTRICAL MEANS. 